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This was an amazing tour!!!! Each day was filled with adventure,I learned and saw so much. The hotels were above average,the food was fresh, healthy , our safety was never a concern. Our tour guide was wonderful with a ability to lead. I came away from Turkey with much respect,knowledge, and memories of happiness. The only thing I would do differently would be to pack less clothes in my suitcase :)

It would be hard to overstate the comprehensiveness and educational value of this program. The sights and sounds were amazing, the cultural experience profound, and the history lessons valuable. The food was first rate throughout, and we all probably ate too much. But, we were so active that we used up all the energy. I felt the stereotypes melt away with each passing day. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about this area of the world.

Vicky from Richmond, VA
Number of programs attended: 1
Date Attended: 05/6/2015-05/22/2015
Salam Turkey! What an experience, I have learn so much about the many civilizations that flourished in Turkey, by the lectures and trips we took to Ephesus, Troy, Hattusas, Cappadocia and many others, as well as the visits to the museums, christian churches, palaces, mosques, cisterns, etc.,
The most important memory that I take with me from Turkey is the friendliness and warm of its people
Although not able to speak their language, we were able to communicate with the universal gesture of a smile!
So fortunate to have with us Jasmine our Tour leader, not only did she explained to us the history about the places visited but also we avoided being on line anywhere, everything was well coordinated and on time. Jim our captain driver maneuvered the bus with such skill in the narrow streets, and bumper to bumper traffic in the big cities.
The hotels were top of the line with so many amenities and excellent food.
Having traveled all over Europe, Turkey remains # 1 as a fascinating place to visit.

This is an excellent introduction to a complex and fascinating country. It covers many miles and thousands of years of history, archaeology and culture and gave me insight into a Muslim country with a secular government which is important in the Near East today. The program moves quickly but covers a lot. For anyone interested in this area it is well worth the investment and time.

I feel like I earned graduate credits in history, and it didn't hurt a bit! Turkey surprised me. Not only was the scenery incredibly beautiful and its history fascinating, but the people (especially the young people) encountered were warm and welcoming. I recommend U.S. travelers try Turkey instead of the usual western European capitals. They won't be sorry that they did! And lucky you if you get Yasemin Akhun as a guide and Jim as the bus driver. They are the best!

Program - From Legends to History: Turkey's Legacy of Civilizations and Cultures is outstanding. Just returned from May 5-22 tour. Small congenial group with superb guide, Yasemin. Well organized itinerary, a feast for history buffs, and special events like hot air ballooning in Cappadoccia (not to be missed) and Sufi whirling dervishes dancing in an ancient caravansary. Comfortable hotels, good food, and the opportunity to visit the cradle of western civilization. We felt safe and well looked after. Fran Schwartz, Mendocino CA

The program really pushed me, but we covered so much it was worth it. I came away with a deepened understanding of the country and, to some extent, what it means to live in a place so rich in reminders of ancient history and of traditions/cultural expressions that live on.

Turkey is absolutely fascinating. Over 5000 years of history and some impressive pre-history can be seen on this tour. We got to see a Hittite Bronze age city (3500 BC), Greek and Roman sites, early Christian sites (pre-Constantine) in Cappadocia, and many wonders of the Ottoman Empire.
Besides the history, the country is beautiful -- from cities to forest and plains to mountains.
Istanbul is huge and crowded but clean and friendly.
Don't miss this opportunity.

An outstanding tour of a magical and beautiful country. This tour has it all -- natural scenic beauty, amazing historic and archaeological sites, introduction to the challenging and fascinating Turkish history and culture, friendly and wonderful local people, and great food! Do not miss this tour!

This was a wonderful trip, very well organized and of great educational and cultural value. We received five invaluable lectures by university professors and researchers who added great value to our learning experience. My husband and I enjoyed every day of the tour. The air ballon flight in Capadocccia was awesome. It was such a great feeling traveling around the country, crossing the Taurus Mountain range down to the southern regions by the Mediterranean. Roads are excellent. I loved the city of Antalya by the Mediterranean Sea. And I found Istanbul to be a magical city. I particularly enjoyed the visits to the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar since you can appreciate the lively culture of the Turkish people. There is such an abundance and variety of produce and food. The weather was marvelous most of the time. Lodging and food were excellent. The guide was knowledgeable, reliable, and supportive. Turkey is a fascinating country and the people are very kind. I would like to go back some other time.

Just finished the May Turkey program. MY first RS program and it exceeded my expectations in almost every way----the Leader (Senol), the hotels, the food, the lecturers, the sites & museums, the tempo of each day's activity, and especially the quality of the Program Handbook.
Best of all were the fellow participants. We had a small group of 15. My 14 fellow participants were excellent travel companions, including one most interesting and lovely lady.
I will probably never take another tour trip because I will fear disappointment by comparison to this trip---just kidding.

I just finished the May program. It was wonderful. Imagine standing in Troy, entering the Hagia Sophia, being in the theater at Ephesus where St. Paul preached, flying over Cappadocia in a hot air balloon. I got to do all this and so much. This was a real bucket list check off journey.

This was the best tour I have taken with RS. There were only 15 of us and our guide Salon, was absolutely the very best! Informative, fun, used bus time well, explaining all about our destination and answering any questions we had about anything. He really became part of the group. This was also the best group I ever traveled with - friendly, funny, informed. We had a large bus and it was always well stocked with cold water. Great hotels, great food and plenty of it. Lots of walking over uneven surfaces, impressive Roman ruins, interesting cities, fantastic traffic jams, lots of construction, best highways. The stop at Troy could be left out - nothing to see but a wooden horse. I must go back to Istanbul as I did not stay for the extension.

Outstanding overview of Turkey's many layers of culture, going back thousands of years. I gained a historical perspective on today's political and religious conflicts in the company of well-informed scholars and tour guide.

Did you know that nine of the 1,000 places to see before you die are in Turkey. This country has so much to offer with its ancient sites, fascinating landscapes, friendly people and great food. Our program was skillfully handled by our guide Sami Ozcini. Consider visiting Turkey when looking for an interesting destination.

Turkey is a travelers delight and this trip offered all I could have wished. The experience was comprehensive, well planned and organized with a focus on classic Turkey as well as the present one. What a gem!

Happy New Year from California. Our September 2013 Turkey tour was spectacular, and e have posted photos day by day on my blog, postcardsfromsusan.blogspot.com -- follow this link:
http://tinyurl.com/klr4ho3
Enjoy!

If you were hesitant to travel, this program would cancel all your fears and anxieties. There were amenities I would not have thought of asking for. Road Scholar covered them and made my trip more delightful than I could have imagined!

Excellent program, great leader, very informative about all aspects of Turkish life. One of the very best programs I've been on. I'd recommend it to anyone who can be active all day and climb lots of stairs. Turkey is a wonderful country and the program took us to many varied areas. Take the hot air balloon ride if you get a chance--a highlight!

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